Sunday, October 18, 2015
Campground day, Sunday, October 18, 2015.
We spent today in the campground, washing clothes, updating this blog, and reading. Tomorrow we checkout Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Hot Tamale Festival, Saturday, October 17, 2015.
Kathy and I had never seen waterballs. Kids are sealed inside a clear plastic ball which is then pump full of air as shown in the foreground of the picture. The ball is pushed out onto a large plastic pool in the background of the picture. It sounds cool at first. However, no kid appears to be able to stand up and actually walk inside the ball. Instead they roll around. I am not sure how fun this actually is.
Confederate Flag Demonstration to Eating at Doe's, Friday, October 16, 2015.
Soon after the anti-flag demonstration, about ten pro-flag demonstrators showed up. This was about five men and three women and two children with one more in a baby carriage, waving Mississippi and southern cross flags. These were not students. One of the southern cross flags had a skull and crossbones on it. One of the guys was wearing a white power hat and carrying a sign saying, "Succession". So much for "heritage, not hate." Newspaper accounts made conflicting claims about who these people were. One claimed that they were members of the KKK from Georgia. Another gave another identify. Anyway, they were greatly out numbered by the protesters of the first group who peppered the second group with insults and questions. Since Kathy and I were standing in the back with the hangers on, we could here the insults and questions of the nearby black students, but could not hear the responses of the further away rebels. Police were keeping the groups apart. A newspaper article said the police eventually lead the group off campus and prevented the black students from following.
Since Kathy and I couldn't hear well, we left before the end and walked to the university library. We found the James Meredith statue in front of the library. In 2014, Graeme Phillip Harris and two other students of the Sigma Phi Epsilon hung a noose and an older version of the Georgia flag with the southern cross on the James Meredith statue. The fraternity was closed and the three boys charged with a felony. In September 2015, a federal judge gave Harris six months in jail, followed by 12-months probation. James Meredith wants the statue torn down and ground to dust because the statue gives a false sense of progress. Back in 1962, federal marshals forced the University of Mississippi to enroll James Meredith. Now 50 years later, Meredith points out that still a federal court, not Mississippi, punished Harris with the hate crime.
Kathy and I drove from Oxford straight to Doe's Eat Place in Greenville, Mississippi. Doe's Eat Place is an internationally known dump serving some of the best steaks we have ever eaten. Kathy and I discovered Doe's in previous visit to Greenville in 2009. Doe's has other locations, but people say they don't give the same run down experience of the original. I am sure this is true. Doe's serves great food and a unique experience. This time Kathy and I shared a table with two guys: Jerry and Lee. One of them was from a small town near Greenville. The other was from Iberia, Louisiana. Now they both live in Texas. Kathy and I had a good time sharing travel stories with them. After finishing our meal at Doe's we camped at Warfield Point Park beside the Mississippi River.
Thursday, October 15, 2015. Driving through Memphis etc. (humming song... see below)
OK, the title of today is a poor play on the song "Walking in Memphis" because it comes to mind everytime I think about Memphis...
We didn't actually do anything in Memphis because we decided to go visit Oxford, Mississippi, and "Ole Miss" because our grandson, Blake is looking at it for college. We decided we would get a picture of the town in our heads in case he decides to go there!
By the time we arrived in Oxford, it was going to be dark, so we first stopped and got a campsite west of town at the Oak Grove Campground (Corps of Engineers) on Sardis Lake. It's a nice campground with well-spaced sites and lots of trees. I'd definitely stay there again if we ever go to visit Blake at the University of Mississippi!
Once we registered the site, we decided to drive in to Oxford and see The Square at night. Chris had read about Oxford and said The Square was supposed to be "the place" to be at night. Well, for a Thursday night in October it was pretty busy!! The Square is centered on the courthouse and there are lots of stores, bars, and restaurants, many still open. There might have also been a concert at one of the sites that night.
We ate Italian food at one of the places on The Square. We walked around and also visited a bookstore, Square Books, before returning to the camp. Tomorrow we will return in the light to see the town and, most importantly, the campus!
We didn't actually do anything in Memphis because we decided to go visit Oxford, Mississippi, and "Ole Miss" because our grandson, Blake is looking at it for college. We decided we would get a picture of the town in our heads in case he decides to go there!
By the time we arrived in Oxford, it was going to be dark, so we first stopped and got a campsite west of town at the Oak Grove Campground (Corps of Engineers) on Sardis Lake. It's a nice campground with well-spaced sites and lots of trees. I'd definitely stay there again if we ever go to visit Blake at the University of Mississippi!
Once we registered the site, we decided to drive in to Oxford and see The Square at night. Chris had read about Oxford and said The Square was supposed to be "the place" to be at night. Well, for a Thursday night in October it was pretty busy!! The Square is centered on the courthouse and there are lots of stores, bars, and restaurants, many still open. There might have also been a concert at one of the sites that night.
We ate Italian food at one of the places on The Square. We walked around and also visited a bookstore, Square Books, before returning to the camp. Tomorrow we will return in the light to see the town and, most importantly, the campus!
Wednesday, October 14, 2015. More of Eureka Springs...
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| Eureka Springs, Arkansas, KOA |
We decided to head in towards town and visit some sites we had decided on.
The first was Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. They rescue and then take care of mostly large cats (tigers, lions, ligers, bobcats, ocelots, cougars, for example) and a few other wild creatures (bear and some others). They are gradually, as they receive the funding, building large enclosures that are natural habitat for the cats. What was amazing is that most of their rescued cats actually came from Arkansas or the surrounding area! I couldn't believe how many private individuals have large wild animals.
We took a guided tour of the facility, too, and met a very nice young intern that told us tales about the animals, the facility, and the rescues. As you might expect, she told us that any people purchase, say, a tiger cub and it's so cute, etc. But about a couple of years later the owners realize that this is turning into a LARGE, wild animal! So they try to find somewhere like the Wildlife Refuge. But she also told us tales about rescues of twenty or more creatures from the same place, living in terrible conditions. It's upsetting.
Next on our agenda was a visit to Quigley's Castle. We really enjoyed visiting this simple site. I suggest you click on the previous link and read the story about the house rather than retelling all of it. I loved the part about Elise and the kids tearing down the old house while the husband was at work! But it is also quite a love story because her husband, Albert, obviously understood his wife and helped her with her artistic ventures over the years.
Elise designed her own house and the main feature is the fact that she planted trees and other plants INSIDE and planned everything around that. The house is actually extremely comfortably designed and I'd love to live there. The windows on the glass side are all like french doors and you walk across a little brige to open them.
Chris' mom designed and built her own home, also. She also loved nature and gardening, so we decided that she would have loved what Elise did with her home.
In the garden, both Elise and Albert built stone structures out of stones, cement, and other found objects. This includes benches, tables, birdbaths, and many more.
The whole place would go well in Lucas, Kansas, we decided. It fits the description of outsider art under whatever name you want to call it (found art, folk art, etc.)
We then returned to the Historic Downtown of Eureka Springs. We caught the trolley from a parking lot and that was nice. We basically walked around, but especially enjoyed visiting a magic shop (and talking to the clerk who would like to become a magician), Gourmet Eureka (a cool little shop with lots of goodies, both food and gadget. The proprietor let us taste lots of neat things and we reciprocated by buying many of them!), and a gem and art shop that had some great pieces.
Back to the campground to eat a supper of goodies we bought from Gourmet Eureka and a salad with our new balsalmic vinegar!
Tuesday, October 13, 2015. To Eureka Springs, AR.
It didn't take long to get to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in the morning. Part of our vacation plans have been to see some of the sites Chris remembers going to several times with his Mom and Grandmother when he was small. But we aren't sure whether it might be Eureka Springs or Hot Springs, so we plan to see both during this vacation.
Yes, Eureka Springs is definitely a tourist town. Most people know this, but it's possible that someone that doesn't travel much might not be aware of that. But that can even be fun for those of us that aren't big shoppers, in a kitchy sort of way.
Before we even got to town we stopped at the Thorncrown Chapel outside of town. This chapel opened in 1980 and contains 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. It's surrounded by woods. They ask that you simply enter, sit, and keep talking to a minimum and quiet. There were quite a few people there when we arrived. The atmosphere and view are inspiring and peaceful. Although we didn't find any mention of it in the promotional literature, we feel there are definite nods to some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work.
On entering town we discovered Fresh Harvest Tasting Room. They have lots of various olive oils and balsamic vinegars to taste and purchase we had lots of fun tasting, especially the vinegars. Although they have the basics, most of the items are either fused or infused with all sorts of other foods. We found a number we really liked, but both really liked the Espresso Balsamic Vinegar. That also happens to be their best-seller!
We then went to a store called The Amish Collection. Kathy wanted to go in and drool over the furniture. So we did. I'll gladly take at least one of everything in the store, if someone is willing to bankroll me! There were scads of simply beautiful pieces; but even if we wanted to purchase something large we couldn't get it back in the camper van. It looks like a trip to Yoder, Kansas, is now on the agenda to look at their furniture.
We did purchase one smaller item: a table that can be pulled up to a chair or couch to eat, etc. OK, it's maybe a glorified TV tray, but it's beautiful wood! We think it will come in handy when all the family is at our house and those sitting on the family room couch need a place for drinks rather than the floor! We also discovered that it actually makes eating in the camper easier for Kathy. However, moving it from the bed to the driver's seat and back each day/night is somewhat irritating.
We called for reservations at the Eureka Springs KOA and then proceeded to go on in to the historic downtown area of Eureka Springs. We walked around mainly, bought some chocolate candies, and then decided to eat some supper in town. We ate at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel. We found the meals to be simply OK. Walked around a bit more and headed to the campground.
We're watching our way through season one of The Blacklist, in addition to reading...
Yes, Eureka Springs is definitely a tourist town. Most people know this, but it's possible that someone that doesn't travel much might not be aware of that. But that can even be fun for those of us that aren't big shoppers, in a kitchy sort of way.
Before we even got to town we stopped at the Thorncrown Chapel outside of town. This chapel opened in 1980 and contains 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. It's surrounded by woods. They ask that you simply enter, sit, and keep talking to a minimum and quiet. There were quite a few people there when we arrived. The atmosphere and view are inspiring and peaceful. Although we didn't find any mention of it in the promotional literature, we feel there are definite nods to some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work.
On entering town we discovered Fresh Harvest Tasting Room. They have lots of various olive oils and balsamic vinegars to taste and purchase we had lots of fun tasting, especially the vinegars. Although they have the basics, most of the items are either fused or infused with all sorts of other foods. We found a number we really liked, but both really liked the Espresso Balsamic Vinegar. That also happens to be their best-seller!
We then went to a store called The Amish Collection. Kathy wanted to go in and drool over the furniture. So we did. I'll gladly take at least one of everything in the store, if someone is willing to bankroll me! There were scads of simply beautiful pieces; but even if we wanted to purchase something large we couldn't get it back in the camper van. It looks like a trip to Yoder, Kansas, is now on the agenda to look at their furniture.
We did purchase one smaller item: a table that can be pulled up to a chair or couch to eat, etc. OK, it's maybe a glorified TV tray, but it's beautiful wood! We think it will come in handy when all the family is at our house and those sitting on the family room couch need a place for drinks rather than the floor! We also discovered that it actually makes eating in the camper easier for Kathy. However, moving it from the bed to the driver's seat and back each day/night is somewhat irritating.
We called for reservations at the Eureka Springs KOA and then proceeded to go on in to the historic downtown area of Eureka Springs. We walked around mainly, bought some chocolate candies, and then decided to eat some supper in town. We ate at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel. We found the meals to be simply OK. Walked around a bit more and headed to the campground.
We're watching our way through season one of The Blacklist, in addition to reading...
Monday, October 12, 2015. Off and away.
As we have the last few years, we took our time getting around today and finally pulled out in the late morning. I forgot to make a brisket this year! (Thanks, Ben, for reminding me and making me feel guilty.) We do miss that we won't have brisket sandwiches along the way.
So, we headed across Kansas to the east and decided our first goal would be... wait for it... the Goodwill store in Joplin, Missouri. For those that have followed our travels over the years you will remember that the store in Joplin has impressed us as the "best laid out" of the thrift shops we visit. We tend to visit stores like this on vacation; sometimes for some item we left (this year it was the microwavable large bowl that I left in the dishwasher) and sometimes just for fun.
Joplin's Goodwill had to move because the one we had visited was in the area hit be the tornado a few years ago. It's now near that spot, but smaller. We still liked the way it's laid out with the racks arranged by color in each department (all the red blouses together, etc.)
After finding a suitable item to cook in, a fork (yes, left some other things in the dishwasher, too!), and some jeans for Chris, we headed out again. We ended up staying overnight near Neosho, Missouri, at the Stage Stop Campground. It's small and sites are fairly close together, but was plenty OK for a quick overnight stay. We had a nice visit with the campground host.
So, we headed across Kansas to the east and decided our first goal would be... wait for it... the Goodwill store in Joplin, Missouri. For those that have followed our travels over the years you will remember that the store in Joplin has impressed us as the "best laid out" of the thrift shops we visit. We tend to visit stores like this on vacation; sometimes for some item we left (this year it was the microwavable large bowl that I left in the dishwasher) and sometimes just for fun.
Joplin's Goodwill had to move because the one we had visited was in the area hit be the tornado a few years ago. It's now near that spot, but smaller. We still liked the way it's laid out with the racks arranged by color in each department (all the red blouses together, etc.)
After finding a suitable item to cook in, a fork (yes, left some other things in the dishwasher, too!), and some jeans for Chris, we headed out again. We ended up staying overnight near Neosho, Missouri, at the Stage Stop Campground. It's small and sites are fairly close together, but was plenty OK for a quick overnight stay. We had a nice visit with the campground host.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014. Saying "adieu" to Ontario and entering Detroit.
Please be patient, we have been off-the-grid while in Ontario. We've
uploaded a few more days while sitting in a Tim Hortons in Kitchener,
Ontario, on Thursday.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014. Driving across part of Ontario.
Please be patient, we have been off-the-grid while in Ontario. We've uploaded a few more days while sitting in a Tim Hortons in Kitchener, Ontario, on Thursday.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014. On to Canada!
Please be patient, we have been off-the-grid while in Ontario. We've uploaded a few more days while sitting in a Tim Hortons in Kitchener, Ontario, on Thursday.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Monday, August 18, 2014. Mackinac Island.
In the morning, we went ahead and reserved our same campsite for the next night. That way we could spend as much time on Mackinac Island as we chose.
The ferry to the Island only takes a little while. The first thing you notice after disembarking is the number of variations of bicycles and other means of transportation like scooters, sidecars for bicycles, tandem bicycles, etc. Many people of all ages are cycling around the area, but many of us were walking. There are also many types carriages pulled by horses (mostly draft horses), so it becomes evident that one type of pollution (auto exhaust) has beenWell, traded for another (horse manure). Ah, but it's historically accurate! Well, maybe not entirely, because there were probably lots more horses and other livestock in the past.
We walked around to view various points of interest including a butterfly house with additional insect displays,
the historic Fort Mackinac, lunch on the deck at the Pink Pony, and visiting a couple of fudge shops (yes, and buying. There goes our good intentions!)
Fort Mackinac was involved in one of the first altercations of the War of 1812. The British troops, including French voyageurs and Indians, landed on the Island about 200-strong. The Americans at the Fort, about 57 of the, didn't even know the young United States was at war again! Being obviously out-numbered, they surrendered the Fort without firing a shot. One of the most interesting displays at the Fort was in the former Infirmary. Several beds are in one room with mannequins portraying sick and injured soldiers, including the Commander. I believe the timeframe was supposed to be around 1895. A movie is then shown on the back wall showing someone portraying the camp's doctor at the time. He explains the first patients ailment/injury and describes his treatment and the outcome. Then the picture changes to a woman doctor from the current era. She discusses what the name of any ailment would be today and what treatments and outcomes would be expected with our modern technology. Some vary a lot, but some of the earlier doctor's treatments, especially of fractures, are pretty close to what is still done. We thought this learning experience was well-done.
The last thing we did was to go on a carriage tour of the Island that lasted about 45 minutes to an hour. A couple of young men told us about the history of various places and people as we rode around the town and through the surrounding countryside. One of the Belgian draft horses (I love draft horses!) had some severe gastro-intestinal problems and regaled us with many loud instance of passing gas. This definitely provided some comic relief when our guide's presentation was continually interrupted.
So, another ferry trip and we returned to the campground. The temperature for the day, which was supposed to be
in the lower 70s, actually never got over 62 as far as I saw. So it was definitely not the prettiest day to walk and ride around the Island. At the campground we began having some light rain, so it was supper, reading, eating some fudge, and going to bed fairly early. Perhaps not exactly in that order!
The ferry to the Island only takes a little while. The first thing you notice after disembarking is the number of variations of bicycles and other means of transportation like scooters, sidecars for bicycles, tandem bicycles, etc. Many people of all ages are cycling around the area, but many of us were walking. There are also many types carriages pulled by horses (mostly draft horses), so it becomes evident that one type of pollution (auto exhaust) has beenWell, traded for another (horse manure). Ah, but it's historically accurate! Well, maybe not entirely, because there were probably lots more horses and other livestock in the past.
We walked around to view various points of interest including a butterfly house with additional insect displays,
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| Which of these is not like the others? |
Fort Mackinac was involved in one of the first altercations of the War of 1812. The British troops, including French voyageurs and Indians, landed on the Island about 200-strong. The Americans at the Fort, about 57 of the, didn't even know the young United States was at war again! Being obviously out-numbered, they surrendered the Fort without firing a shot. One of the most interesting displays at the Fort was in the former Infirmary. Several beds are in one room with mannequins portraying sick and injured soldiers, including the Commander. I believe the timeframe was supposed to be around 1895. A movie is then shown on the back wall showing someone portraying the camp's doctor at the time. He explains the first patients ailment/injury and describes his treatment and the outcome. Then the picture changes to a woman doctor from the current era. She discusses what the name of any ailment would be today and what treatments and outcomes would be expected with our modern technology. Some vary a lot, but some of the earlier doctor's treatments, especially of fractures, are pretty close to what is still done. We thought this learning experience was well-done.
The last thing we did was to go on a carriage tour of the Island that lasted about 45 minutes to an hour. A couple of young men told us about the history of various places and people as we rode around the town and through the surrounding countryside. One of the Belgian draft horses (I love draft horses!) had some severe gastro-intestinal problems and regaled us with many loud instance of passing gas. This definitely provided some comic relief when our guide's presentation was continually interrupted.
So, another ferry trip and we returned to the campground. The temperature for the day, which was supposed to be
in the lower 70s, actually never got over 62 as far as I saw. So it was definitely not the prettiest day to walk and ride around the Island. At the campground we began having some light rain, so it was supper, reading, eating some fudge, and going to bed fairly early. Perhaps not exactly in that order!
Sunday, August 17, 2014. Pictured Rocks and across the U.P.
We started the day by heading toward Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the northern boundary of Upper Michigan (the U.P.). This boundary is washed by Lake Superior, then largest of the Great Lakes. Pictured Rocks is a pretty descriptive name. The rocks are rugged and very colorful from the various sediments that has formed them. It is suggested that the best way to enjoy the Pictured Rocks is by boat, canoe, or kayak, but we settled for using some of the observation towers.
Where to go next? We decided to head toward Mackinac Island, Michigan, since we've heard about it and it's automobile-free atmosphere. By the way, we discovered that the name of the Island is actually pronounced “mac-a-naw.” The city across the bridge into lower Michigan is actually spelled “Mackinaw City.”
We weren't ready to leave U.P., so we camped at Straits State Park on the edge of St. Ignace. If you walk down to the beach near our campsite there is a great view of the Mackinac Bridge that connects the two areas of Michigan.
After a run to a nearby grocery store, we drove around the city to get our bearings for the next day when we planned to take the ferry over to Mackinac Island.
Where to go next? We decided to head toward Mackinac Island, Michigan, since we've heard about it and it's automobile-free atmosphere. By the way, we discovered that the name of the Island is actually pronounced “mac-a-naw.” The city across the bridge into lower Michigan is actually spelled “Mackinaw City.”
We weren't ready to leave U.P., so we camped at Straits State Park on the edge of St. Ignace. If you walk down to the beach near our campsite there is a great view of the Mackinac Bridge that connects the two areas of Michigan.
After a run to a nearby grocery store, we drove around the city to get our bearings for the next day when we planned to take the ferry over to Mackinac Island.
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| Chris and Kathy under the 5-mile long Mackinac Bridge |
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Saturday, August 16, 2014. Fair day in Upper Michigan
After leaving Kyle with tears in our eyes we drove to Appleton, Wisconsin, home of at least two famous people: Harry Houdini and Joseph McCarthy. We headed to The Historical Museum at the Castle in downtown Appleton because it has a display about Houdini.
We arrived at the museum to discover the weekly farmer's market was running down the street in front of the museum. The farmer's market is over two blocks of fresh and canned vegetables, cheeses, meat, candles, honey, jewelry, a variety of cooked food and much more. We purchased some pickled garlic, asparagus, and squash. We enjoyed some of the crafts; two ladies glue old, fancy china plates and colorful glass bowls together so they look like large wild flowers, then hangs them on rebar. They sell them for $25.
After the farmer's market, we went into the museum. The three Houdini rooms had texts about his early life as the son of a poor rabbi and momma's boy living in Appleton, some locks and lock picking equipment he used and several interactive exhibits about his life as an entertainer and a small exhibit about his debunking of spiritualists. The exhibit was ok. It suggests, but doesn't fully reveal the awesomeness of his talent and how hard he work. Oh my gosh, how hard he worked to be the best.
After the museum we ate in a park filled with beautiful flowers and a water fountain featuring dancing bronze children. With their wonderful farmer's market and beautiful neighborhoods, Appleton seems an idyllic community.
We drove on to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As we drove through Escanaba we saw a large Goodwill store. We purchased some light jackets because we forgot to pack them for the trip and thought we would soon need them. Since I am too cheap to buy and expensive winter coat and can not find used versions in the Great Bend Salvation Army store I purchased a winter coat. Kathy purchased a dress coat for next winter.
In the store parking lot we heard the roar of stock cars racing around a track. As soon as we left the parking lot we passed a state fair. We decided to go, but first we needed to get a camp site. So we drove about 4 miles further to a campground. The campground was full, but the woman at the counter saw we have a 1995 Roadtrek. Since she and her husband have a 1994 Roadtrek, they found us in a spot next to the kiddy playground. She also told us that the state fair in the Upper Peninsula is the only Michigan state fair left. The fairs in the lower part of Michigan have closed down.
At the state fair Chris ate a pasty which seems to be a UP Michigan staple, like bierocks in Kansas. We also watched a 20-lap stock car race with several crashes and near crashes. Far more excitement in those 20 laps than in a five hour NASCAR car race. In the one vendor area, we bought three packaged dips, just add sour cream and mayo. In the livestock area, a baby goat kept nibbling a little girl's jacket sleeve. She thought it was funny. Her mother did not. In an earlier trip, Kathy and I visited the Arkansas State Fair. This Michigan fair was about the size of the Arkansas fair, perhaps a tad larger. The Kansas State Fair is many times larger than either of these fairs.
We arrived at the museum to discover the weekly farmer's market was running down the street in front of the museum. The farmer's market is over two blocks of fresh and canned vegetables, cheeses, meat, candles, honey, jewelry, a variety of cooked food and much more. We purchased some pickled garlic, asparagus, and squash. We enjoyed some of the crafts; two ladies glue old, fancy china plates and colorful glass bowls together so they look like large wild flowers, then hangs them on rebar. They sell them for $25.
After the farmer's market, we went into the museum. The three Houdini rooms had texts about his early life as the son of a poor rabbi and momma's boy living in Appleton, some locks and lock picking equipment he used and several interactive exhibits about his life as an entertainer and a small exhibit about his debunking of spiritualists. The exhibit was ok. It suggests, but doesn't fully reveal the awesomeness of his talent and how hard he work. Oh my gosh, how hard he worked to be the best.
After the museum we ate in a park filled with beautiful flowers and a water fountain featuring dancing bronze children. With their wonderful farmer's market and beautiful neighborhoods, Appleton seems an idyllic community.
We drove on to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As we drove through Escanaba we saw a large Goodwill store. We purchased some light jackets because we forgot to pack them for the trip and thought we would soon need them. Since I am too cheap to buy and expensive winter coat and can not find used versions in the Great Bend Salvation Army store I purchased a winter coat. Kathy purchased a dress coat for next winter.
In the store parking lot we heard the roar of stock cars racing around a track. As soon as we left the parking lot we passed a state fair. We decided to go, but first we needed to get a camp site. So we drove about 4 miles further to a campground. The campground was full, but the woman at the counter saw we have a 1995 Roadtrek. Since she and her husband have a 1994 Roadtrek, they found us in a spot next to the kiddy playground. She also told us that the state fair in the Upper Peninsula is the only Michigan state fair left. The fairs in the lower part of Michigan have closed down.
At the state fair Chris ate a pasty which seems to be a UP Michigan staple, like bierocks in Kansas. We also watched a 20-lap stock car race with several crashes and near crashes. Far more excitement in those 20 laps than in a five hour NASCAR car race. In the one vendor area, we bought three packaged dips, just add sour cream and mayo. In the livestock area, a baby goat kept nibbling a little girl's jacket sleeve. She thought it was funny. Her mother did not. In an earlier trip, Kathy and I visited the Arkansas State Fair. This Michigan fair was about the size of the Arkansas fair, perhaps a tad larger. The Kansas State Fair is many times larger than either of these fairs.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Friday, August 15, 2014. Camping at Point Beach State Forest (Wisconsin)
Day 2 of camping with Kyle started off oddly. While Chris was out walking, Kyle came in the camper and reminded me that we needed to get down to the office since we were on the "transfer" list for another site and the new sites were assigned beginning at 9 AM. It was already after that!
I hurriedly got ready and we headed for the office. When we arrived the campground staff person told us we were a little early, since it was still about twenty minutes until 9 AM! It seems that sometimes cell phones (the clocks/watches of today) in this area read a tower from Michigan and that State is actually on Eastern Daylight Time! It was a good thing that we were early though, because we were told that the people on the transfer list got first dibs if they were there, then others were able to request any leftover campsites. If someone on the transfer list is not there when others come, they lose their spot and have to become a first come/first served customer.
Since we still had time, we were given the available site numbers and Kyle and I went to check them out before the time arrived. At 9 we were the second camp on the transfer list, so we got to pick our new site. Check out time was at 3 PM and then we would move from Site 115 to Site 113.
Kyle and I checked out the beach on the way back to the site. Then Kyle, Chris, and I went down to see the lighthouse in the park and the beach near it. Chris and Kyle then began hiking the section of the Ice Age Trail that runs from the park towards the town of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. I waved them off, returned to the campsite to do the first entry on this blog, then drove to Two Rivers to pick them up.
Kyle has been hiking a number of trails in the U.S. the last few years and figured they'd finish in about an hour and a half. I couldn't find the end of the trail in Two Rivers, so parked in the shade at the City Park where I figured they may come by. And then I waited and waited... I texted them both and received some updates that it might be longer than they expected. As time went on I realized that 3 PM was nearing and we needed to vacate our first campsite by then so that the next campers could move in. After texting them about my plans, I headed back to the campsite right before 3.
I parked Kyle's car at the new site, walked down the road (two sites away), packed up the chairs, wood, etc., unhooked the camper, and drove it to the new site. I walked back and took off the weather cover (whatever the official name is unknow to me!) and walked it to the new site. Once more, trekked back, took out the stakes, and walked the still-up tent back to the site. I just staked it in the first available spot, likewise the camper was parked temporarily, and then returned Two Rivers (about 4 miles) to find the two hikers at the convenience store have some refreshments.
Chris and Kyle seemed to enjoy their hike through both woods and beach areas, even though it ended up being longer than they had planned.
We spent some time reading and resting, then Kyle and I went down to the beach to sit and read. It was cooler than we thought, so we didn't stay long. Some kids had made a really cool trench from the lake (Lake Michigan, by the way) inland about 12 feet to a VERY large hole in the sand. Of course it was filled with water. It reminded me of things my kids would enjoy doing when we were on family vacations.
Another night of a campfire, reading, and conversing...
I hurriedly got ready and we headed for the office. When we arrived the campground staff person told us we were a little early, since it was still about twenty minutes until 9 AM! It seems that sometimes cell phones (the clocks/watches of today) in this area read a tower from Michigan and that State is actually on Eastern Daylight Time! It was a good thing that we were early though, because we were told that the people on the transfer list got first dibs if they were there, then others were able to request any leftover campsites. If someone on the transfer list is not there when others come, they lose their spot and have to become a first come/first served customer.
Since we still had time, we were given the available site numbers and Kyle and I went to check them out before the time arrived. At 9 we were the second camp on the transfer list, so we got to pick our new site. Check out time was at 3 PM and then we would move from Site 115 to Site 113.
Kyle and I checked out the beach on the way back to the site. Then Kyle, Chris, and I went down to see the lighthouse in the park and the beach near it. Chris and Kyle then began hiking the section of the Ice Age Trail that runs from the park towards the town of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. I waved them off, returned to the campsite to do the first entry on this blog, then drove to Two Rivers to pick them up.
Kyle has been hiking a number of trails in the U.S. the last few years and figured they'd finish in about an hour and a half. I couldn't find the end of the trail in Two Rivers, so parked in the shade at the City Park where I figured they may come by. And then I waited and waited... I texted them both and received some updates that it might be longer than they expected. As time went on I realized that 3 PM was nearing and we needed to vacate our first campsite by then so that the next campers could move in. After texting them about my plans, I headed back to the campsite right before 3.I parked Kyle's car at the new site, walked down the road (two sites away), packed up the chairs, wood, etc., unhooked the camper, and drove it to the new site. I walked back and took off the weather cover (whatever the official name is unknow to me!) and walked it to the new site. Once more, trekked back, took out the stakes, and walked the still-up tent back to the site. I just staked it in the first available spot, likewise the camper was parked temporarily, and then returned Two Rivers (about 4 miles) to find the two hikers at the convenience store have some refreshments.
Chris and Kyle seemed to enjoy their hike through both woods and beach areas, even though it ended up being longer than they had planned.
Another night of a campfire, reading, and conversing...
Thursday, August 14, 2014. Heading north in Wisconsin
We all took it easy in the morning. We stayed in Kyle's apartment; it was the first time Chris had seen the new one!
After eating some breakfast and getting everything packed, the three of us took a trip over to Savers thrift store. We were looking for a medium weight blanket for the weather we have been encountering. We have one for very cold weather, but not a good one in the camper for chilly weather. Found one. Plus we both forgot to pack jackets for colder weather. We each found some at the store, plus some other goodies. We find lots of really good stuff at thrift stores and this one seems well-managed.
And then it was off on our camping trip! Chris drove the camper and listened to his lectures, while I rode with Kyle so that we could catch up on things and have some mother/daughter bonding. The trip was fun. Our destination was Point Beach State Forest a little south of Green Bay Wisconsin. Since we use electricity for our C-PAPs, but Kyle's used to roughing it while camping, our campsite fit the bill. It was wooded with pretty good separation from other campers. Misquitoes were irritating, but not impossible.
The one problem we encountered was that electric sites were at a premium and our site was only available for one night. We will have to move tomorrow!
Kyle built us a nice fire and we cooked hot dogs that Chris had picked up for supper. And sat around the fire as it turned dark. Yes, Kyle and I had some beer... we did NOT cook marshmallows, sing, or tell ghost stories. But a good time was had by all and we laughed alot.
After eating some breakfast and getting everything packed, the three of us took a trip over to Savers thrift store. We were looking for a medium weight blanket for the weather we have been encountering. We have one for very cold weather, but not a good one in the camper for chilly weather. Found one. Plus we both forgot to pack jackets for colder weather. We each found some at the store, plus some other goodies. We find lots of really good stuff at thrift stores and this one seems well-managed.
And then it was off on our camping trip! Chris drove the camper and listened to his lectures, while I rode with Kyle so that we could catch up on things and have some mother/daughter bonding. The trip was fun. Our destination was Point Beach State Forest a little south of Green Bay Wisconsin. Since we use electricity for our C-PAPs, but Kyle's used to roughing it while camping, our campsite fit the bill. It was wooded with pretty good separation from other campers. Misquitoes were irritating, but not impossible.
The one problem we encountered was that electric sites were at a premium and our site was only available for one night. We will have to move tomorrow!
Kyle built us a nice fire and we cooked hot dogs that Chris had picked up for supper. And sat around the fire as it turned dark. Yes, Kyle and I had some beer... we did NOT cook marshmallows, sing, or tell ghost stories. But a good time was had by all and we laughed alot.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014. The House on the Rock.... and Kyle!
One of the House on the Rock staff claims Alex Jordan and Frank Lloyd
Wright never met. Wikipedia retells stories from two biographies of Alex Jordan Jr. of how Alex Jordan Jr. committed to building House on the Rock near Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Jordan was a devotee of Frank Lloyd Wright. One day Jordan drove to Frank Lloyd Wright's home Talisen, near Green Springs, Wisconsin to show Wright some blueprints. After looking over the blueprints, Wright said he wouldn't hire Jordan to build a cheese crate or a chicken coop. On the way home, Jordan pointed to a tower of rocks and said he would build a pagoda on top of those rocks. And he did. Then he spent the rest of his life collecting stuff and erecting buildings to house them. The end result is the most visited tourist attraction in Wisconsin.
Wright's influence on Jordan's construction is unmistakable. Wright had a building technique called compress and release. Front entrances had low ceilings about 6 feet above the ground. This seem oppressive, but about 15 feet inside the ceiling jumps up to 12 to 20 feet. Compress. Release. Jordan's house contains extreme compression, since my head sometimes bumped the ceiling, with little release. And dark, oh my gosh.
Wright played with windows. In one house Wright built a rock garden with bowling ball size boulders. The bottom of a glass wall is cut to fit the exact shape of the boulders separating the garden half inside and half outside the house. Cool idea. A more common Wright technique is to have to large panes of glass meet at the corners of a room without a frame between them. The glass is beveled to fit tightly together at the corners. The glass may h,ave fit together tightly when first installed. Decades later, the glass is now separated by at least a quarter of an inch. And, as I recall, there is no cawking filling the cracks. And these are the windows in Talisen in the middle of Wisconsin. Fortunately, Wright was also fond of huge roof overhangs which prevents water from blowing in.
Unfortunately, Jordan did not adopt Wright's use of windows. Several walls have some rows of windows about chest high or facing down toward the ground. They add little light. Most lighting comes from a few recessed bulbs or indirect lighting from somewhere.
Like Wright, Jordan uses wood and stone for some walls and ceiling. Unlike Wright, most of Jordan's walls and ceiling are darkened by a thick, deep red plush carpet, the type I have seen in sleezy, dark discos. This carpeting even covers the kitchen. Reading a recipe would be impossible. And where are the cabinets to store cooking equipment and cans of food? Several rooms have bookshelves reaching to the ceiling some 15 feet overhead. Reading the spines and reaching the overhead shelves are impossible. I have to agree with Wright's assessment of Jordan's architecture.
Then there are the collections which go on and on and on. Several of the collections are interesting for those who like that "stuff". The best collections are the doll houses, the guns, butterflies, ships, and crown jewelry. With the exception of the ships and the crowns, few items are marked and identified, so people have to bring their own knowledge. The mechanical instruments are the most entertaining collection. There are several orchestras and bands with and without mannequins play a variety of tunes. I think I prefer instruments playing by themselves. The music is not played perfectly, but it is amusing.
After leaving the house, we drove to Madison to see daughter Kyle. We ate at a sidewalk cafe. Kyle told us about her Alaskan trip.
Wright's influence on Jordan's construction is unmistakable. Wright had a building technique called compress and release. Front entrances had low ceilings about 6 feet above the ground. This seem oppressive, but about 15 feet inside the ceiling jumps up to 12 to 20 feet. Compress. Release. Jordan's house contains extreme compression, since my head sometimes bumped the ceiling, with little release. And dark, oh my gosh.
Wright played with windows. In one house Wright built a rock garden with bowling ball size boulders. The bottom of a glass wall is cut to fit the exact shape of the boulders separating the garden half inside and half outside the house. Cool idea. A more common Wright technique is to have to large panes of glass meet at the corners of a room without a frame between them. The glass is beveled to fit tightly together at the corners. The glass may h,ave fit together tightly when first installed. Decades later, the glass is now separated by at least a quarter of an inch. And, as I recall, there is no cawking filling the cracks. And these are the windows in Talisen in the middle of Wisconsin. Fortunately, Wright was also fond of huge roof overhangs which prevents water from blowing in.
Unfortunately, Jordan did not adopt Wright's use of windows. Several walls have some rows of windows about chest high or facing down toward the ground. They add little light. Most lighting comes from a few recessed bulbs or indirect lighting from somewhere.
Like Wright, Jordan uses wood and stone for some walls and ceiling. Unlike Wright, most of Jordan's walls and ceiling are darkened by a thick, deep red plush carpet, the type I have seen in sleezy, dark discos. This carpeting even covers the kitchen. Reading a recipe would be impossible. And where are the cabinets to store cooking equipment and cans of food? Several rooms have bookshelves reaching to the ceiling some 15 feet overhead. Reading the spines and reaching the overhead shelves are impossible. I have to agree with Wright's assessment of Jordan's architecture.
Then there are the collections which go on and on and on. Several of the collections are interesting for those who like that "stuff". The best collections are the doll houses, the guns, butterflies, ships, and crown jewelry. With the exception of the ships and the crowns, few items are marked and identified, so people have to bring their own knowledge. The mechanical instruments are the most entertaining collection. There are several orchestras and bands with and without mannequins play a variety of tunes. I think I prefer instruments playing by themselves. The music is not played perfectly, but it is amusing.
After leaving the house, we drove to Madison to see daughter Kyle. We ate at a sidewalk cafe. Kyle told us about her Alaskan trip.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014. Herbert Hoover's day!
 |
| Customer who appreciates sarcasm any time of the day. |
We first visited Reid's Beans, a hip coffee shop.
Herbert Hoover's boyhood home until 10 years of after leaving the Presidency, Herbert Hoover returned to West Branch and began planning his Presidential Library. The portion of the town he lived as a boy was purchased and his boyhood 2-room home was remodeled and replicas of his father's blacksmith shop and his mother's schoolroom were rebuilt. The museum library tells the story of his life. And a remarkable life it is. He truly was a great man.
After becoming the highest paid professional man in the world, he retired from work and spent the rest of his life as a "public servant". He used his extraordinary managerial skills mobilizing volunteer relief efforts which literally saved from starvation millions of men, women, and especially children in Belgium and Russia during World War I, the Mississippi Flood of 1927, etc. He became known as "The Great Humanitarian".
Recognition of these managerial skills eventually won him the White House in a landslide. His Presidency was immediately challenged by the Great Depression. His preference for limited government and volunteer mobilization failed him this time. After losing to FDR and 12 years suffering neglect during the recovery from the Great Depression, he devoted his life to public service, writing books, giving speeches, etc.
After leaving Hoover's memorial, Kathy purchased some heritage tomatoes from a local farmer's market. We then moved on toward Kyle's.
Monday, August 11, 2014. The verdict...
Good news...
Chris got up earlier, as usual, and walked down to the mechanic's shop to find out the diagnosis and prognosis on the car's problem. It started right up for them! The most logical answer seems to be that the van suffered from vapor lock.
So we both had a small breakfast at the motel and we actually were back on the road!
We decided that since we had missed our supper in Omaha, we'd try to make it there for lunch. How exciting, our taste buds were kicking into high gear for the Ethiopian food at Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant. But when we got to Omaha and pulled up, they are closed on Mondays!
We were still sitting in the parking lot, staring at the sign with the hours, when one of the owners came up and asked us if we needed help. We told him how disappointed we were, but he didn't open just for us! Odd.
We may try it again on the way back.
So, we continued on across Iowa and decided we'd find a campground near the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum. So we found Little Bear Campground near West Liberty, Iowa.
Chris got up earlier, as usual, and walked down to the mechanic's shop to find out the diagnosis and prognosis on the car's problem. It started right up for them! The most logical answer seems to be that the van suffered from vapor lock.
So we both had a small breakfast at the motel and we actually were back on the road!
We decided that since we had missed our supper in Omaha, we'd try to make it there for lunch. How exciting, our taste buds were kicking into high gear for the Ethiopian food at Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant. But when we got to Omaha and pulled up, they are closed on Mondays!
We were still sitting in the parking lot, staring at the sign with the hours, when one of the owners came up and asked us if we needed help. We told him how disappointed we were, but he didn't open just for us! Odd.
We may try it again on the way back.
So, we continued on across Iowa and decided we'd find a campground near the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum. So we found Little Bear Campground near West Liberty, Iowa.
Sunday, August 10, 2014. Off we go?
Vacation 2014 started with a bang... or maybe it's better described as a whimper.
After packing on Saturday, we lollygagged around and left home around eleven-something. All was going well; two weeks of traveling wherever we wanted in our camper van. Of course it's not "officially" vacation until we get out of Kansas, because we are so familiar with our Kansas roads.
So, we grabbed some lunch in Abilene and as we were driving along we got this great idea. Instead of heading towards Iowa and Wisconsin through Kansas City for our first leg (as usual), "let's go through Omaha and eat at that great Ethiopian restaurant we like!"
Our route, therefore, changed and we headed for Nebraska through Marysville, etc.
And that's were the bottom fell out; but not literally, thank goodness.
We were just a few miles into Nebraska, coming up on a small town called Wymore. We had already decided we would buy gas there or the next larger town, Beatrice. So, there we were, merrily driving along and suddenly we couldn't go any further. Oh, the van was running, it just wouldn't go anywhere when you pressed on the gas!
We pulled over onto the grass (no real shoulder there). We debated the cause: no gas? The engine was still running. So finally the closest past problem we could come up with was, maybe, the fuel pump. (Yes, all you mechanics may have figured out the validity of that one already...)
After a couple of rather long and frustrating calls to our roadside service number, we decided to handle it ourselves. Chris couldn't get phone service, but I had been able to if I stayed in one spot a number of feet behind the vehicle. Chris, however
, could reach 911 while I was wrapping up my other call. The County Sheriff's office quickly provided him with three names of towing companies. We called the first and he said he'd head down the twenty-plus miles to get us (from Beatrice).
When he arrived and loaded up the camper, he had already contacted a mechanic willing to look at the car the next day (yes, this was Sunday). After we unloaded the van, we checked in to a nearby motel for the evening and ate some supper. The motel didn't match up to the motels we encounter around our Central Kansas Library System 17 counties, but it was a bed, etc. for the night. We enjoyed watching two aviation movies, Tuskegee Airmen (1995) and Flyboys (2006); one for each of the World Wars, both based on true stories.
And, tomorrow we will discover how many days it will take to fix the van and decide what to do about vacation. Dum, dum, dum, dummmmmm
After packing on Saturday, we lollygagged around and left home around eleven-something. All was going well; two weeks of traveling wherever we wanted in our camper van. Of course it's not "officially" vacation until we get out of Kansas, because we are so familiar with our Kansas roads.
So, we grabbed some lunch in Abilene and as we were driving along we got this great idea. Instead of heading towards Iowa and Wisconsin through Kansas City for our first leg (as usual), "let's go through Omaha and eat at that great Ethiopian restaurant we like!"
Our route, therefore, changed and we headed for Nebraska through Marysville, etc.
And that's were the bottom fell out; but not literally, thank goodness.
We were just a few miles into Nebraska, coming up on a small town called Wymore. We had already decided we would buy gas there or the next larger town, Beatrice. So, there we were, merrily driving along and suddenly we couldn't go any further. Oh, the van was running, it just wouldn't go anywhere when you pressed on the gas!
We pulled over onto the grass (no real shoulder there). We debated the cause: no gas? The engine was still running. So finally the closest past problem we could come up with was, maybe, the fuel pump. (Yes, all you mechanics may have figured out the validity of that one already...)
After a couple of rather long and frustrating calls to our roadside service number, we decided to handle it ourselves. Chris couldn't get phone service, but I had been able to if I stayed in one spot a number of feet behind the vehicle. Chris, however
 |
| The cute couple point to their destination, Michigan. |
When he arrived and loaded up the camper, he had already contacted a mechanic willing to look at the car the next day (yes, this was Sunday). After we unloaded the van, we checked in to a nearby motel for the evening and ate some supper. The motel didn't match up to the motels we encounter around our Central Kansas Library System 17 counties, but it was a bed, etc. for the night. We enjoyed watching two aviation movies, Tuskegee Airmen (1995) and Flyboys (2006); one for each of the World Wars, both based on true stories.
And, tomorrow we will discover how many days it will take to fix the van and decide what to do about vacation. Dum, dum, dum, dummmmmm
Friday, September 6, 2013
Saturday, September 6, 2013. A Date with Kyle
Today is the day we meet our daughter, Kyle, in Portland!
Our morning was spend merely driving towards Portland's airport. We arrived ahead of Kyle's scheduled 2PM arrival, so we spent the time visiting an IKEA store near the airport. This was the first time either of us had been able to actually visit an IKEA, although we were familiar with what we might discover.
We had fun wandering around the showrooms. Of course, we found several great ideas that we would like to use both during our remodeling and even some that might be applicable at work and for our libraries. It was especially interesting to see the complete rooms that were displayed, as well as the entire small apartments/houses. The displays showed how maximum space could be used in a stylish way. Chris was especially impressed that nearly every room display included books. He even noticed that they were Scandinavian language titles, in keeping with IKEA's heritage.
Since it was nearly time to go to the airport we didn't really get to do much more than walk through the Marketplace floor on the way to the exit. I would really like to visit again to see the organizational ideas, etc. We picked up a catalog on the way out!
I met Kyle at the Frontier baggage claim after a short wait. Her plane was taxiing in while we approach the terminal. We first decided to head for Washington Park and visit the Japanese Garden there. This public urban park covers over 410 acres, including a zoo, walking trails, a rose garden and much more. Although parking was a problem, with vehicles lining all the roads, we considered ourselves lucky to get there before paid parking is initiated later this fall!
The Japanese Gardens are tranquil and lush. Kyle took many pictures, including many of the statues that are partially covered with moss. We later also went through much of the Rose Garden and enjoyed the variety of roses, all in differing colors and with different odors.
We the headed downtown to introduce Kyle to Powell's City of Books. This is the main store for Powell's, one of the larger online bookstores also. There are at least 68,000 square feet packed with books, both new and used. They have thousands visit the main store each day; probably more than live in most of the towns we visit in our library system! Kyle found some titles to take camping next week and agreed that it would be easy to spend days browsing in the multi-leveled store and reading in the Powell's on-site coffee shop. Of course, some books found there way to our camper, too!
After walking around downtown for a bit, we decided to find the home of Kyle's guides for her trip. She planned to stay at there house that night. After locating the address (they were out for the evening), we looked for a restaurant nearby to eat a late supper.
We discovered The Baowry in St. Johns. It appears this Vietnamese/Korean fusion restaurant began as a food cart and then moved fixed up and moved in to this former crackhouse a year ago!! It appears we ate there one day after the 1st anniversary. Everyone had a great time eating there. We also were able to eat out in the yard under the stars.
We then decided to find a place for Chris and I to camp for the night. By the time we found one within a reasonably short distance (Jantzen Beach RV Park), it was getting late, so Kyle texted her. hosts and told them she would just stay with us for the night and meet them the next day. Walking to the restrooms, etc., with Kyle reminded me of all the years that my kids (Ben, Jason, Kyle, Megan) and I went camping for vacations from the time they were around one-year-old until they were college-age.
We were lucky to get a spot that late at night. The campground had two spots available posted on the door. Luckily, one of those would only take a shorter rig, so our RoadTrek was ideal!
We were lucky to get a spot that late at night. The campground had two spots available posted on the door. Luckily, one of those would only take a shorter rig, so our RoadTrek was ideal!
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